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Sports
The professional baseball league in the country, called the Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB, was established in 1936 and, because of its
rapid growth, it was divided into two different circuits in 1950 — the Central League (consisting of six established clubs) and the Pacific League
(consisting of six new clubs). The two teams that win their respective leagues face each other in the finals, known as the Japan Series.
Football (Soccer)
Football arrived in Japan during the Meiji Period when advisors from the West, hired by Japan’s government, introduced their sports to the
locals, including baseball and basketball.
In 1917, the Tokyo Shukyu-dan was established and became the first football club in Japan. A couple of decades later, the Japanese national
football team was formed and has become one of the top football clubs in the world, clinching tickets to the FIFA World Cup tournaments in
1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014.
In addition to FIFA, the Japanese national football team has also competed in other international tournaments, such as the Copa America, East
Asian Football Championship, and Confederations Cup. It achieved its highest world ranking ever in February 1998 when it placed 9th.
Basketball
Basketball in Japan has had its ups and downs through the years, but a revival in the last two decades has made it one of the most followed
sports in the country — thanks to Takuya Kawamura and Yuta Tabuse, two highly respected Japanese basketball players who helped bring Japan
to the international stage; and to mangaka Takehiko Inoue, creator of the all-time bestselling manga “Slam Dunk”, for spreading the love and
passion for this sport through his masterpiece.
Japan’s first professional league was called the Japan Basketball League, which was made up of two divisions: the Super League or Division
1 and the Japan League or Division 2. In 2012, the JBL teams joined the National Basketball League or NBL, a new professional league
established by the Japan Basketball Association, which resulted in the dissolution of the JBL.
Today, there are 12 teams that make up the NBL and they play a total of 55 games each in the regular season.
Japan also has a men’s national basketball team that is one of the best in Asia, qualifying for the FIBA Asia Championship 25 out of 26 times
and winning the event twice. In 2006, Japan hosted the FIBA World Championship, where it finished in 17th place.
Martial Arts
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Aikido – One of the less rough martial arts, aikido is a sport that is popular among females and older people. It believes in the principle
that fighting is a means of protecting one’s self without causing severe harm and injuries to the attacker. It is a great sport for physical
and mental fitness.
Karate – A popular martial art even outside Japan, karate is a practical type of sport that only needs one’s hands and fists for combat.
Kenjutsu – Referring to all forms of Japanese swordsmanship during the pre-Meiji Era, kenjutsu came from the samurai warriors during
Japan’s feudal times. It is translated as “the technique or method of the sword”.
Kendo – Japan’s own version of fencing, kendo is a martial art that came from kenjutsu, the samurai’s most important and essential
martial art. In a kendo match, the participants wear a special kind of protective gear and use bamboo swords to hit the other’s hand,
chest, or head.
Judo – Created in Japan in 1882, judo is a combative type of martial art that uses three basic techniques — striking, grappling, and
throwing. It is an excellent sport to learn for self-defence. Its creator, Kano Jigoro, started a school called Kodokan that still operates to
this day and is regarded as the best institute for Judo learning and mastery.
Jujutsu – A close combat type of martial art, jujutsu is a sport that aims to defeat an opponent carrying a weapon with the use of no
weapon at all, or just a small one. It employs various grappling techniques, such as striking, biting, kicking, holds, trapping, throwing
and gouging.
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